Episode Transcript
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 0:00
What we're doing right now in this lifetime is for posterity, we are building this link of a long chain that somebody else will build upon. And so that is our purpose. Now I find myself more being the leader, and the narrator and the storyteller have my own journey of where I'm going to be going.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 0:42
Once upon a time, there were 10s of 1000s of makers struggling every day they built for hours and hours but didn't ship and they didn't earn enough income one day with the no code wealth podcast and newsletter came to help them find a way because of this makers become earners and earn the money they deserve. Because of this founders can have growth, freedom and wealth until tomorrow no code becomes the next big skill that changes the future of humanity. That's what I'm all about. Hello, my name is Abdulaziz and from an ethical hacker to European Ivy League business graduate to a hypnotherapist to a growth marketer. I've lost everything twice and now I'm rebuilding my life one more time. 1% a day the no Caldwell's podcasts and newsletter are for the makers and founders who have the proactivity perspective and persistence to go on this journey with me and get from experts as well as the stories of other makers. The answers about money, marketing and mindsets so that makers become earners, earners become founders and founders get freedom and create wealth. My guest today is a true news. Her name is Tricia that his was Gutierrez from writing to hosting the fin capillary podcast, from poetry to animal health and wildlife rehabilitation. Tricia is a gifted poet, and experienced blogger and author at author house, and it is a joy to have her with us today. Trisha, how are you?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 2:22
Abdulaziz I'm doing really well today. I'm so happy to finally be here on your podcast.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:29
I'm glad honored and privileged and to begin, during this holiday period where many people are enjoying a lot of stories of Santa Claus and Christmas. Let's begin with a story. What is the story that made you the treasure that we know and love today?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 2:50
Well, I guess you could say that. The inception point of that was actually my Inception point. I think things like this start as a seed at your birth. And what happens is that, do they germinate? Do you cultivate them. And I think that's the difference between doers and achievers and people who only have dreams. You know, dreams can only go so far. You have to do the heavy lifting past that point. And so that's I guess you could say, That's how my story started. It was every step since the time of my own creation until my adulthood and every step that I took to achieve what I wanted to as far as my writing my poetry, my creativity.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:47
Wonderful, and it's really cool. I mean, you are born at the catalyzing event are the catalysts of your stories. So you were born directly into your into your hero's journey. The call was the baby's cry. So I love that it's a wonderful beginning. And you are creative creativity is more than just an adjective or a descriptor. It's your part of your identity. And one of the things that creative people might struggle with. And that's why too many people die with their song inside their hearts is that they don't accept or they cannot take or they cannot even imagine what they will do when they will get criticized for what they're creating and bringing forth into the world. As someone who is prolific. How do you deal with that? What is your approach to this whole thing of the eyes and the mirror that you get that might be distorted or not? From other people and the critics,
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 5:02
you know, I can't ever say that I am not affected by criticism, or by trying to tailor what I'm doing to other people's eyes or other people's tastes. How do I hold myself accountable for that? I try to remember primarily. And I know this sounds simplistic, but what I do is always foremost for myself. And so if it pleases me, and it's something that I'm proud to do for myself, and to put out into the world, that is, that's, that's my main indicator that I am being successful. Because I'm not trying to cater what I'm doing. I'm not trying to modify my art, for other people's satisfaction, it is primarily for my own. And when I look at it with that mindset, it ends up being something incredible, and something worthwhile. And something that I'm, I'm proud to put forth. And I can look back at it several years later and say, hey, you know what, I did that I did that for myself, and for myself alone. And that was all that was necessary.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:32
I love that I actually resonate with that more than you can expect. And to me, it's like a two pronged approach. In the samurai culture, there is a book called Hagakure. A, and in it, there is a big emphasis that a samurai should live as if they're already died and have a second chance at life. So I approach creativity as if I already failed totally. And what is left are those extra minutes, the extended time after the scores have been settled. And all I can do is enjoy those moments, and live for myself, as well as my belief with each person's big role and purpose in life is to have their own unique perspective that nobody else has. And to contribute that to the big, big group or to society so that they will correct their blind spots. And therefore by definition, other people cannot fully understand my creativity or art, because it's my role to extend their understanding and stretch their minds into what they cannot see. And therefore by definition, they don't see it as perfect, because it's not their perspective, it's mine. And to ask you a bit about your creative process, do you have a way that you somewhat systematically get into a creative mode? Or are you more of like, in my culture, we call the inspiration, like a cupid or a moody devil that comes when it pleases? And it goes whenever it wishes, probably at the worst time possible. So are you very similar to some creative people who say, inspiration? Doesn't matter? I put in the hours and the hours will bring in the good results? Or are you one person who is the type that when you're in the best mood, then the creativity flows, and magic happens?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 8:40
I think I'm a good balance of all those elements right now. Within this year, I used to be so much buying into the romance of being the the tortured artist, and only producing things when the muse, you know, came around and was inspiring me. That still does happen. And when it does, it's awesome. But I found that there is something to be said about putting in your work in advance and setting yourself up with a schedule. I know that sounds really more on a kind of busy side as opposed to being on the creative side. Inspiration fuels, you know, maybe about 90 or 80 to 90% of what we do, but the preparation that we put into it prior. I found out mostly within this last two years. It's opened up incredible avenues and incredible opportunities for me because I am able to look at the bigger picture and see that hey, you know, I can go forward with what I'm currently doing and and see the direction it's going to go and see the branches where it's going to go off to. And so this one creative element becomes multiple things. And it's able to feed multiple different endeavors, if that makes any sense at all.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:18
It does. And to me, it's like a gift and occurs to be a highly creative person, because when an idea is being shaped, it feels like given birth, almost truly, I cannot pretend to know how that is. But it feels like that, like there is something that is being born and coming forth. And it's painful, and it's uncomfortable until it comes through and then it's, you're relaxed into it. And you know, you bursted into the world. That is my experience. But I know that from having many, many ideas, you will get to the select ones are the best ones. It's like a photographer who might take 900 photos just to get nine great ones. Because from the seeds, others can fertilize and germinate into something wonderful to you. Do you have a story of one thing you wrote? Or something you created that you're most proud of? And can you share that story and then your favorite moment about it?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 11:31
Well, a few months ago, I created a longer poetry hybrid piece, it was hard poetry part song. And a lot of its inspiration, without going too much into its backstory was a combination of paying homage to my heritage, and also paying my respects to my mother who passed away earlier this year. And so those two things melded together to to create a poem that was, I guess, you could say sort of a love letter to my culture, which is I'm Filipino American. So my mom is from the Philippines. It was an equal love letter to her and to my heritage. And so the beautiful thing about it is that it is a good example of how poetry and writing is alive. So this piece that I made, is it perfect? Is it something that is finished? No, not ever. And that's the beauty of it, it continues to grow and change, as I'm growing and changing within this last part of the year. And so I've had an opportunity to rewrite it a couple of times, I never used to like that idea of rewriting. Because I thought that you're kind of tampering with the essence of, of what you're trying to say. This for me is different. This for me is, every time a new experience, or a new emotion is added on. I add that to the poll on my add that to the piece. And so I've been performing this piece, various open mics, and it becomes a totally different creature each time. And it's filled with all the emotion that I had that day. All the energy, you know, if I have high energy, it's a high energy poem. It's if I have low energy, it's a low energy poem. And so it's this living, breathing thing. That's, that's beautiful to behold. And to go back to later and say, you know, just listening to that poem, I can see what kind of emotions I was going through that day, I could see what kind of enlightenment I was feeling.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 13:54
I love that. And you mentioned the Philippines, which is one of my most favorite places where I've lived I lived in Davao in the south in Cebu, and almost the center and in Manila and I enjoyed durian, which is very delicious, but it smells very bad in the south where there was, it's a very fertile land with great mangoes and really creative people who have magical voices. And you can go to a church or a shopping center and hear almost the concert that you will hear at the best best arenas in the US but it's just someone with a mic on a karaoke stand in the middle of a shopping center. It's absolutely magical, and to ask you more about creativity. When did you know that writing and expressing yourself through poetry and prose is the path that you should take in life,
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 15:02
this is gonna sound really hokey and kind of really hallmarking. And some people are probably going to HATE me for saying this. But this is the Absolute Truth. Writing was not my primary goal. With my creativity, I wanted to channel it in to something else, like doing graphic art, or maybe better than that fashion design, I really primarily wanted to be a fashion designer. That didn't completely pan out for me. I think the timing was wrong. And so during that time period, I was trying to siphon off all that creative energy into something. So I remember it was 2020, I decided to I was working at a bookstore, I found one of our little scratch pads. And I started just doodling while I was up there at watching the register. And I said, Hey, you know, this is not half bad. Let me go ahead and continue doing this. Now, nothing clicked as hard. And as perfectly as that moment. And I've been addicted ever since. And do you know how some people, I guess you could say, there are things that they're really good at, there are things that are really bad at, and then there are things that they are just made to do. And there's no explanation, no logical explanation. Everything that they do, when they are concentrating on that endeavor is like perfect alignment. And that's how I feel like when I'm writing, I feel like I'm feeding a part of myself, that gives me this perfect balance and makes me a whole person.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 16:59
I love those words, alignment, perfect balance and being a whole person. But to confirm the detail. You said I remember it was 2020. So is it this year, or was
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 17:15
I remember it was the year 2000 is what I meant to say,
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 17:19
okay, because he said 2020, I was like what it is, I remember, I'm still in it. We're not done with it. To me, I was such an introverted child, I didn't know how to like have conversations with people, I was somewhat isolated. And to me, the pen and the paper. And until today, I prefer to use a fountain pen and denote that to me. That was the way that I had conversations with myself, that always enrich themselves. And then years later, I read a book called How why therapy works. And it explains that simply when some person is expressing and speaking about their problems, something happens in the brain, when someone is listening, that rewires their brains for more power and like better health and emotional stability. So that's one of the big reasons why therapy works is simply having someone listening, there is a natural process for the brain to get emotionally healthier, and let go of trauma by itself. So to me, the paper was like the person listening, and I was expressing, and the more I expressed, the better. There were the words were positioned, and the more alignment was there. And the better structure that came through and came forth and more truth was being shaped within all that noise. And to me, that was my way of beginning to get my voice and the world through writing. And therefore writing is my dojo, as the martial artists will say, or writing was my best friend or my companion that helped me mature and grow through that interactive interaction with myself if I might say, which is almost magical to ask you another thing, because this is fascinating. To me really, who is like, Do you have a source or someone that you consider to be your ideal when it comes to art, whether in music, or in writing, or in poetry, and every time you listen to that person or read what they do you think, Wow, this feels like the best that I wish I have done and it's just represents me so much, although it's not coming from me.
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 19:49
That answer has actually changed over this this past unique year. Before if you had asked me that about a year or so ago, I would have said, you know, the usual suspects, I would have said somebody like Nikki Giovanni, or Maya Angelou or Langston Hughes, people who were, you know, very famous, and much beloved, and who are worthy, really of being heroes, for anybody who's a writer, a poet, a creative. But that answer has changed, as my own physical world has closed up. But my, I guess you could say virtual world has opened up, I've been, well, we've all been confined to to our house, not being able to interact with the world at large, our computers have become our world. And so I have met people globally, through a lot of online forums. And they have become, a lot of them have connected with me. They are from different disciplines, as far as art, but mostly writing, and they have become my inspirations and my heroes, that who I draw a lot of courage and stories and inspiration from a lot of them I've not met in person, it's just that they drive me so much in so many ways. In actuality, to build up my art every day, or something that they would post and I was never a fan of social media. Am I a fan? Now social media, not exactly, but I see how, at its best, what what type of potential it has. And so seeing these people, the content that they put the word the content that they put into their pages, inspires me to do the same, and to try to inspire other people with my own art in a daily basis. So I guess, you could say that these people are my compass, and I want to be, I want to pay it forward and be somebody else's compass with their art.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 22:20
I love that. So to you, art is not some individualistic, selfish, eine Rand kind of creative process where you go into your own cave, and you just look at some lake from high up in the mountain and get inspired by that mood and express it on paper is more of a collaborative project, where through interaction and seeing others creativity, that drives into you the you the enthusiasm and energy to take their energy and express it forth into something new. If I understood correctly, of course, and you mentioned multiple times, that the year 2020 was for you, specifically, very unique, and the turning point, but I have no idea for you specifically, how that changed why it mattered? Can you give us a bit of context of why and how 2020 change, do you
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 23:26
from what you just said right now, you had mentioned about me not being isolated in a cave, and finding the connectivity with other people empowering. And I think that was one element about 2020. It was that shift, I was actually to begin with the classic keep to myself introverted. My art is my own art type of creator. And that shifted gradually and then burst forward forward this year with meeting these people who are otherwise, maybe if we were in a face to face situation, that would have not been facilitated in the same way. Having the comfort of being in my own home and gradually getting to know these people and connecting with them. That that became really key. And the second part of that too, was that I, I really leaned into my creativity this year. I feel that before I was saying I was letting the goddess I guess the gods or goddesses just tell me what direction do I go? Okay, I'll go that day. What, when am I when or what am I going to do at a given time and then just wait for an answer from the universe? Sometimes Sure, I still do that. But now I find myself With more being the leader, and the narrator, and the storyteller of my own journey of where I'm going to be going, and so that's going to inform everything from, you know how I go through a week of creativity, you know how I'm going to structure the bones of it to make these things that I want to achieve, happen. And so, because of that, I've become more disciplined, I feel in trying to juggle and I hate to use the word juggle, but for lack of a better word, doing a podcast, religiously, blogging, religiously having my open mic still being a prefer, not a performer, but a poet, who produces poetry that is satisfying to my soul. So just that shift those, those two main elements of having that connection and opening up to people and not being so such an isolated artist, and also my leaning into my art, really leaning into it, and trying to squeeze out every piece of, of Cree creativity that I can from, you know, from from what I'm trying to put forth.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 26:18
And that is exactly the embodiment of one of my most favorite quotes, which is that life doesn't give you what you want. It gives you what you need. And exactly through 2020, something we wish never happened that helped you evolve into the next version of Trisha, Trisha 2.0, or 3.0? Or I don't know, you're right, which revolution in your path? Since you began since you were born on this earth? And to you to ask a more metaphysical kind of question. What is to you the purpose of life? Why are we here? Don't just say 42? You know, the answers to life and everything. But almost DNS, that's my question to you.
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 27:10
I am actually going to harken back to an old answer. And the reason why this is an old answer, it's tried and true. And it's never shifted, because it remains a truth to me. And that is that we are, what we're doing right now in this lifetime is for posterity, we are building this link of a long chain that somebody else will build upon. And so that is our purpose to, to make our mark. And to have it be a foundation that is steady and strong and beautiful, and just inspiring enough for somebody to build upon. And then this becomes something that is for infinity, it's for infinity, it's something that can never be erased, whether my physical body is here still on this earth, somebody else will be carrying me forward with the work that I built upon, that they will be taking forward and building upon as well.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 28:26
So if I understood correctly, you're all about legacy and even pushing it further. You are one of those Hellenic old Greek people who had the culture and the belief that as long as someone on this Earth still remembers you or name positively you you're never dead. Or, and it's not your culture at all. Or though your your last name is very Hispanic sounding, but your Filipina which was actually at the time it was colonized by Mexico, when Spain failed, but I remember that movie and multiple, like movies like Coco or whatever, about the De Los Muertos, and how when the last person who will remember you will die then you will die forever. So I guess to you, as long as you have impacted the life of someone, and that person took your work force and impacted other lives, then treasure is forever and infinite. Did I understand correctly?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 29:34
Absolutely. I think that with my with my words, I am putting something that is more permanent than me. And if it reaches one person, that one person is able to spread it to other people and it's it's just this chain reaction. It's a ripple effect that becomes exponential, and more and more people are now Part of me carrying me forward.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 30:03
Yes. Which brings me to a bit of a tricky question. Does this mean that now you feel yourself not infinite? And not that kind of forever brought forth kind of person? And therefore you need to do something to create that?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 30:21
Yes. Again, you know,
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 30:23
I know, Desire comes from a lack, which means that if you wish to be, like, remembered forever, or impacting other people to stay part of them and part of you forever, it means the opposite is what is existing right now. So is it that at some level, you feel a bit, that you're, you weren't or you're not, yet I've the level of impact and legacy that you need to feel fully fulfilled?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 30:56
I think that there's always room for me to, to grow into that being worthy of, of being worthy of a legacy. And I have been feeling really lately, you know, the, the weight of mortality. I've been dwelling a lot on that. And it just puts so much more emphasis on. So you know, what am I doing? What am I doing to, to seal? My, you know, to really let people know that I did, I did step on this earth, I was here, I did exist. How am I doing that? It puts a finer point on it.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 31:43
Yes. So you wish to let people know you existed on this earth you exist and to leave your mark, and to impact people and to be part of the infinite and of eternity? Did I understand correctly? Yes, that
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 32:00
is correct. But I guess a little bit more emphasis on, you know, not just not it being a thing, where I will be lauded and future cultures are in the future. It's it's my place, so somebody else can have that place and elevate it.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 32:23
Yes. So you want to be because you stood on the shoulders of giants. You want to be the shoulder that the future stands, people will stand on something like that.
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 32:34
That's Yes, exactly. That's, that's beautiful the way you put that. Thank you.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 32:39
And I know you have such an exciting, interesting and enriching podcasts. Can you speak about that project? And speak about what you're up to? And how can people get in touch learn more, and know what you're all about?
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 32:56
Well, my podcast is a weekly endeavor, it is put forth by anchor. So it's the Finn capillary podcasts on Anchor, which is anchor.fm, forward slash, Tricia dash D. Dash has Soos. Currently, I am so excited that my feature for the next three months is spotlighting different creative artists, from people who are musicians, people who do multimedia art, people who are poets, writers, playwrights, storytellers, just every wonderful color and shape and shade of the rainbow. So yeah, that's that's what I'm putting forth. As far as that goes. I am actually so deeply into being engaged with the people that I that I have that I've connected with. So yes, I am on all the major social medias, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, it's all the same. It's fin underscore, Bill, pH, y, double n, e underscore, B, E, L, E. And, yeah, I have a weekly open mic as well. And that's another creative endeavor where I'm able to stretch my mind a little bit into creating themes and having more structure around. How I am able to provide a community and a safe space for other people to connect with me and share their own genius and their talent.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 34:56
I love those final words to share their genius and talent in a safe space. It's absolutely absolutely inspiring. And I will leave your links in the description, at least a few of them because Apple hates long description, so I'll leave at least one or two. It's my pleasure. This was so, so good. I enjoyed it. It was like a delicacy. If I might say, Man, you are wonderful. I wish you a great day.
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 35:35
Yes, you too. Abdulaziz. This was a wonderful and refreshing I was going into it with apprehension, but I just I loved it. It was like talking with someone who I've known for some time and somebody of a like mind.
Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 35:53
Thank you. I mean, I feel the same. Exactly. And sometimes when, like you said, why things click. It just clicks and that's that.
Tricia De Jesus-Gutierrez 36:03
Absolutely.
